Again, I write a new commandment to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light already shines.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 7–8. An old commandment.… and again, a new commandment. He means the commandment of charity, or of the love of God and the love of our neighbour. This he calls both an old and a new precept. It may be called old, not only as being a precept of the law of nature, and always obligatory, but because Saint John and the other apostles had delivered it to them long ago, that is when these persons were first converted. It may also be called a new precept, Saint John recommending it anew to them in this epistle, and declaring it to be enjoined in a particular manner by our Saviour Christ, after it had been misconstrued and neglected, especially as it regards our neighbour, that is, every one without exception; so that if any one hate another, it is in vain that he pretends to walk in the light of the gospel. Witham.—A new commandment; that is the commandment of love, which was given in the old law, but was renewed and extended by Christ. See John 13:33. Challoner.